Eredivisie
Fortuna Sittard edge Groningen in Eredivisie thriller at Euroborg
Fortuna Sittard came from behind to beat Groningen 3-2, with J. Hubner's late own goal deciding a chaotic Eredivisie clash.
Groningen hosted Fortuna Sittard at Euroborg in the fourth round of the Eredivisie, with Dick Lukkien's side lining up in a 4-2-3-1 against Danny Buijs' 5-3-2 visitors.
The home side thought they had weathered the early storm, but Fortuna Sittard struck first in the 12th minute. M. Ihattaren, assisted by L. Zeefuik, slotted home to give the visitors a surprise lead.
Groningen responded quickly. Just seven minutes later, D. van der Werff pulled one back, finishing off a pass from J. Schreuders to level the contest.
Before the half-hour mark, Fortuna Sittard regained their advantage. L. Zeefuik, again set up by E. Michut, scored to restore the visitors' two-goal cushion and leave the hosts searching for answers.
The first half ended with Fortuna Sittard leading 2-1, having done enough to suggest they might run away with the result.
The second half began with Groningen pushing forward, desperate to claw back the deficit. Their pressure eventually told, though not without drama.
In the 72nd minute, A. Descotte extended Fortuna Sittard's lead, capitalizing on another delivery from E. Michut to make it 3-1 and seemingly seal the outcome.
Groningen, undeterred, kept pressing. Their persistence paid off in the 87th minute when J. Hubner, playing for Fortuna Sittard, inadvertently sent the ball into his own net, narrowing the gap to 3-2 and injecting fresh life into the match.
The closing moments were tense. Fortuna Sittard's E. Michut picked up a late yellow card in stoppage time, while Groningen's T. Hernes also saw red in the dying seconds, capping a frantic finish.
Ultimately, Fortuna Sittard held on for a 3-2 victory, with the own goal proving the decisive moment in a match full of twists.
The result leaves Groningen fifth in the Eredivisie table with six points from three games, while Fortuna Sittard sit eighth on four points after the same number of matches.
Referee Martijn Vos oversaw a fixture that lived up to the unpredictable nature of the Dutch top flight.
Both coaches will reflect on lessons learned, with Groningen ruing missed opportunities and Fortuna Sittard celebrating a hard-fought away win.
The match will be remembered for its dramatic finish and the role of individual errors in shaping the final outcome.